Eurogamer has some interesting comments from financial and industry analysts on what the delay means for Sony and the PlayStation brand this fall during the critical Christmas sales season.
Capital Research’s Jesse Divnich: ”I don’t believe a GT5 delay impacts Sony’s current momentum. GT5 is such an anticipated title that delays are unlikely to impact consumer’s purchase intent. Whether released a week later or the last week of December, sales will be astronomical.”
Wedbush Securities’ Michael Pachter: “Without knowing the date, it’s impossible to say,” he said. “If it’s a week, no impact. If after Need for Speed, they could lose some momentum.”
M2 Research’s Billy Pidgeon: ”Another delay on Gran Turismo is disappointing, especially to the most enthusiastic fans of the franchise. Still, there have been so many delays that another one is not surprising. Obviously, there’s not much time left in the holiday season so Yamauchi and Polyphony have got to go gold within two months.
I wouldn’t revise PS3 uptake estimates on this news as it is still possible GT5 is released in Q4 2010 or Q1 2011 and is likely to spur new and upgrade console sales. Sony has set the visuals bar pretty high with Gran Turismo,” he offered, “so it is crucial that the graphics (as seen on HDTV and in stereoscopic 3D with camera-based head tracking) impress the critics and the fans. Gran Turismo 5’s timely release is perhaps even more crucial to Sony’s 3D TV division than it is to PS3. In-store demos of GT5 may be the best case Sony can make to consumers for 3D TV.”
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